Isaiah 61: The Year of the Lord's Favor
Anointed by the Spirit, the herald proclaims good news to the poor and freedom to captives, the very words Jesus claimed as his own.
Isaiah 61 (WEB)
1 The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
3 to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall work your fields and your vineyards.
6 But you shall be named the priests of Yahweh; men will call you the ministers of our God: you will eat the wealth of the nations, and you will boast in their glory.
7 Instead of your shame you shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be to them.
8 “For I, Yahweh, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Yahweh has blessed.”
10 I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth produces its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring out; so the Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring out before all the nations.
Isaiah 61 (KJV)
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
8 For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 61 (ASV)
1 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers.
6 But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
7 Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them.
8 For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Summary
A Spirit-anointed voice speaks: “The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble.” This is the passage Jesus read in the synagogue at Nazareth and declared fulfilled in himself. The anointed one is sent to bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, release those who are bound, and announce the year of Yahweh's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, comforting all who mourn. He gives those who grieve in Zion a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, so that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. The redeemed will rebuild ancient ruins and raise up former devastations, while others tend their flocks and fields. They will be called priests of the Lord and ministers of God, receiving a double portion instead of shame and everlasting joy instead of dishonor, for God loves justice and makes an everlasting covenant with them. The chapter ends with a song of exultation: the speaker rejoices greatly in the Lord, clothed in garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness like a bridegroom and bride adorned, for as the earth brings forth its growth, so God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
Voices
- The Anointed One — The Spirit-anointed herald sent to preach good news, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty—words Jesus applied to himself in Nazareth.
- Yahweh / the Lord Yahweh — The God who anoints his servant with his Spirit, who loves justice, and who makes an everlasting covenant with his people.
- Those who mourn in Zion — The brokenhearted, captive, and grieving who receive beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and are called oaks of righteousness.
Key Verse
Isaiah 61:1 (WEB)
The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound;
Lessons Learned
- God's anointed comes specifically for the poor, the brokenhearted, and the captive.
- The gospel exchanges our ashes, mourning, and despair for beauty, joy, and praise.
- Those whom God redeems become his planting, rebuilders and priests in his service.
- God clothes his people in salvation and righteousness, the way a bride and groom are adorned.
- The Spirit anoints the herald of good news. “The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble” (Isaiah 61:1, WEB).
- God exchanges sorrow for joy. He gives “a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3, WEB).
- The redeemed become priests and rebuilders. “You shall be named the priests of Yahweh” (Isaiah 61:6, WEB), and they “shall build the old wastes” (61:4).
- God clothes us in salvation and righteousness. “He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10, WEB).
- Who is the anointed one sent to, and what is he sent to do (verses 1-3)?
- How does Jesus' reading of this passage in Luke 4 shape the way we understand it?
- What is the significance of the exchanges in verse 3—ashes for beauty, mourning for joy?
- What roles and blessings are promised to the redeemed in verses 4-9?
- Where do you need the good news of this chapter—comfort, freedom, or joy for mourning—in your own life?
- The anointed one is sent to the humble, the brokenhearted, the captives, the bound, and the mourners (61:1-3). His mission is targeted toward the suffering and lowly, announcing release and comfort—a portrait of the heart of God's salvation.
- In Luke 4, Jesus reads this very passage in the Nazareth synagogue and announces, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” He claims to be the Spirit-anointed herald, identifying his own ministry as the arrival of the year of the Lord's favor.
- The exchanges show God reversing every effect of grief: he replaces the ashes of mourning with a beautiful headdress, sorrow with the oil of joy, and a crushed spirit with praise (61:3). His salvation does not merely relieve pain but transforms it into glory.
- The redeemed rebuild ancient ruins, are called priests and ministers of God, and receive a double portion and everlasting joy instead of shame (61:4-7). God gives them honor, purpose, and a covenant relationship, turning their disgrace into lasting blessing.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name where they are brokenhearted, captive, or mourning, and to receive the good news Jesus proclaims. As leader, hold out Christ as the anointed one who still binds up the broken.